Cookies makeour sitework better for you

We use cookies to provide you with the best, most personalised online experience possible. Just accept to carry on browsing or choose the type of cookies you're happy for us to see (you can change them anytime!)

Strictly necessary

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

PHPSESSID - This is a general purpose identifier used to maintain user session variables, a good example is maintaining a logged-in status for a user between pages.

wordpress_logged_in - The cookie indicates when the user has logged on (Wordpress).

wordpress_sec_[ID] - These are functional cookies that allows users to remain logged into the site. Without these cookies users would be unable to log into the site or remain logged in once they are logged in.

wordpress_test_cookie - Used on sites built with Wordpress. Tests whether or not the browser has cookies enabled.

wp-settings-[ID] - The number on the end is your individual user ID from the users database table. This is used to customize your view of admin interface, and possibly also the main site interface.

wp-settings-time-[ID] - The number on the end is your individual user ID from the users database table. This is used to customize your view of admin interface, and possibly also the main site interface.

menuType - This cookie is used for A/B testing on behalf of Chester Zoo. The cookie is used to determine which of the two menu types the user will be presented with.

rejectMarketing - This cookie is used to check the user specified cookie options and retain said selection values.

intercom-id-[ID] - This cookie is used by Intercom as a session so that users can continue a chat as they move through the site.

SID - This is a very common cookie name but where it is found as a session cookie it is likely to be used as for session state management.

DSID - This cookie is set to note your specific user identity. It contains a hashed/encrypted unique ID.

Marketing

These cookies track online activity to help advertisers deliver more relevant advertising or to limit how many times a user sees an ad.

_fbp - Used by Facebook to deliver a series of advertisement products such as real time bidding from third party advertisers.

_gcl_au - Used by Google AdSense for experimenting with advertisement efficiency across websites using their services.

1P_JAR - This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.

A6 - This cookie is generally provided by MediaMind and is used for advertising purposes.

APISID - This DoubleClick cookie is generally set through the site by advertising partners, and used by them to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites. This cookie works by uniquely identifying your browser and device.

ActivityInfo2 - This cookie is used to track conversions associated with a unique visitor and is used for attribution and ROI measurement.

CONSENT - This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.>

ANID - This cookie is set to note your specific user identity. It contains a hashed/encrypted unique ID.

HSID - This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites.

IDE - This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.

NID - This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to help build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites.

OT2 - These are cookies set by our marketing/advertising agency in order for us to make our marketing activities more relevant.

OT_[ID] - These are cookies set by our marketing/advertising agency in order for us to make our marketing activities more relevant.

SAPISID - This DoubleClick cookie is generally set through the site by advertising partners, and used by them to build a profile of the website visitor's interests and show relevant ads on other sites. This cookie works by uniquely identifying your browser and device.

SIDCC - This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.

SSID - This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website.

fr - Facebook tracks opted-out Facebook users with a cookie (fr) that is used for advertising purposes.

u2 - This cookie collects information regarding the website visitor's navigation throughout the site and the efficacy of the advertisements shown to the visitor during their navigation.

t1 - Collects information on visitor behaviour on multiple websites. This information is used on the website, in order to optimize the relevance of advertisement.

tuuid - This cookie is mainly set by bidswitch.net to make advertising messages more relevant to the website visitor.

tuuid_lu - This cookie is mainly set by bidswitch.net to make advertising messages more relevant to the website visitor.

_ga - This cookie is associated with Google Universal Analytics. This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports. By default it is set to expire after 2 years, although this is customisable by website owners.

_gid - This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics. It stores and update a unique value for each page visited.

SL_C_[ID]_KEY - Smartlook to anonymously control individual visitors to the website, and stores various cookies.

Deny All

We’ve welcomed TWO MILLION visitors!

Share this page

20 December 2019

A record number of people have flocked to the zoo in the last year – with two million visitors recorded for the first time.

New figures, released today, have revealed that we have broken every attendance record since opening we opened in 1931.

This new milestone will ensure that we continue to lead the fight to prevent extinction and protect the future of threatened species on the planet, while providing a significant boost the visitor economy in the North West of England.

Income generated by visitors is enabling us to make a huge, positive impact on wildlife in more than 30 countries worldwide. Key initiatives this year have included scientific research into habitats and diseases, animal welfare knowledge and technical expertise, as well as ground-breaking awareness campaigns.

PSSSTT

The fantastic support of our visitors and members is vital to our efforts to protect wildlife extinction globally

Mark Pilgrim, Chief Executive Officer

“This year alone, we’ve helped to return five critically endangered Eastern black rhinos to an area where they had previously been extinct in Rwanda. Our team carried out the world’s first radio tagging of a giant pangolin, one of the world’s most trafficked animals, to help us gather data about their movements in Uganda. Thousands of rare, zoo-bred snails were flown to Bermuda and French Polynesia to be reintroduced to the wild and, at home in the UK, hundreds of endangered large heath butterflies have been bred at the zoo ready for release next year in Manchester’s mosslands. We also made Chester the world’s first ‘Sustainable Palm Oil City’ which has raised the profile of one of the biggest threats to the future of orangutans – the unsustainable palm oil industry. Meanwhile, our scientific breakthrough in EEHV research, a deadly virus that is decimating Asian elephant numbers globally, led to the first ever successful treatment of a calf at the zoo, while we’ve welcomed a host of new arrivals across the many carefully coordinated breeding programmes we play a vital part in.

It’s absolutely crucial that more people sit up and take urgent notice of the threats facing wildlife and fully embrace the different ways that they can help make a difference. This is something our education programmes constantly champion. We can all come together and bring a halt to biodiversity loss.”

As well as having a positive environmental impact, the boom in visitors has contributed to the wider economy in the North West and given a boost to jobs and tourism in the region.

Jamie Christon, Chief Operating Officer, added:

“Two million people visiting the zoo, including record membership numbers, is a real boost to our conservation efforts and provides great benefits to the surrounding area – bringing £50m every year to the region’s economy. What is more, we now employ up to 1,000 members of staff in peak summer months, which means more people than ever are working to help prevent extinction.

“Thank you to every single person that has visited the zoo and left feeling more empowered to protect wildlife. You have helped us to protect endangered species around the world.”

Plan

Your Visit

Your zoo ADVENTURE starts right here! Plan your BEST DAY and explore Chester Zoo. There’s plenty to do – so make the most of your day out.